Draft-gear.



No. 819,266. v I PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

I J. R. GARDWELL. I

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 1905 2 SHBETS-SHEE" 1,

PATE NTED MAY 1, 1906. J. R. 'CARDWELL.

DRAFT GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' emp JAMES R. GARDWELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1,1906.

Application filed June 1, 1905. Serial No. 2631329.

To (LIZ who/n may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. CARDWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Draft-Gear, of whichthe following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,referencebeing had to the a c' companying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to friction draft-gear oyed in railway service, andhas for its object the provis on of a simplified construction of suchgear, the reduction of the space occupied thereby, improvedaccessibility to component parts thereof, and such an arrangement of thevarious elemcntsthat the greatest efficiency in operation is obtained.

' As is Well known by those skilled in the art, col-springs disposed andacting longitudinally of the gear are employed for re ceiving impact andaffording a cushioning action upon the approach and'upon, the separationof adjacbnt vehicles associated with the draft gear. Hitherto it hasbeenproposed to provide supplemental cod-springs disposed and actingtransversely of the draftgear; but these latter coil-springshave beenprovided 'for an auxiliary urpose only and are disposed between the sils, rendering said springs subjectto the objection of non-accessiblitythat is applicable to the longitudinally-disposeds rings,

Qne feature 0 my invention resides in providing spring mechanismdisposed and acting transversely or laterally of the frictiongear, uponwhich mechanisn'i imposed the main burden or a very substantial portionof the main burden of affording proper action between the componentelements of the gear and resides in providing such spring mechanism inassociation with friction-blocks that are adapted to move transverselyof the gear and other blocks that are adapted to move long? 'ulinally ofthe gear, which spring mechanism is disposed upon the exterior of thesills in or er that it maybe accessible and in order that such mechanismmay be employed of a proper size to fulfil the functions it is toperform.. By dispos'ng this spring mechanism upon the exterior of thes'lls the space between the sills need not be unduly enlarged.

and, moreover, the length-of the entire gear may be considerablyreduced. By this construction the friction elements are very compactlyarranged and the stops against which the longit nfinally-acting frictionelements are pressed may be v'ery closely approached, so that, togetherwith the close proximity of the svlls, an extremely compactstructure issecured, lessening the tendency to fracture of, any of the elementsentering into the gear construction.

Another feature of my invention residesi'n providing an improvedmounting for each ongitudmally-acting friction member, whereby the heavyabutments that have hitherto been em loyed, against which thelattermembers wor i, may be dispensed with and where by specialsupporting means for the longitu- 7o dmally-acting friction members maybe omitted. To this end I have provided 'slotsin the sills, two in each,theslots in onesill being opposite the slots in. theother, a plate ineach op osite pair of slots, anda friction member 7 5 inc uding andcarried upon. each plate. In other words, each longitudinallyactingfriction member is provided with a sliding connection with the sills,preferably accomplished by means of the plates thatI have 111stspecified, for convenience Z of construction -th at is, Ihave mountedthesefriction members directly upon thB'SEllS to have slidin connectiontherewith, said plates practica ly forming parts of said members, I donot wish to be limited to a construction in which these plates areseparably made. It being desirable for purposes of construction to formthe end friction members and the portions thereof that have the slidingconnection with the sillsin distinct pieces, the pieces that have thisdirect sliding engagement are preferably made of wrought-iron, so asreadily to standshearing and compression strains. In order that thelongitudinallyacting friction members may also have proper engagementwith the coupler-yoke and at the same time have-proper engagement withthe plates that carry them, the friction members are provided each witha 106 plurality of ribs i The plates upon which the friction members aremounted pass through slots in the sills or are otherwise permitted tohave longitudinal movement with respect to the sills, so that the yokemay effect the rela- 1o 5 five approach of the longitudinally actingfriction members and the spring mechanism may effect a separationthereof. 3 v V There are other features of my invention that willbeiexplained hereinafter. l o

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings,

the

- view of the rearward pocketed follower-plate. Fig. 4 is a erspectiveview of the forward pocketed fo lower-plate. Fig. 5 is a generalperspective view, parts being shown in section.

Like parts are indicated by similar charialcters of reference throughoutthe different ures. I The sills a a may be of any well-known or suitableconstruction and united by any suitable means, there bein one strut 1)indicated as effecting a part of t is union between the same. Two slots0 and d are provided in each of these sills, the plate e being passedthrough the forward slots 0, While the plate f is passed through therear slots d. The front friction member 9 is mounted upon the forwardplate 6 and the rear friction member h is mounted upon the rear plat Theforward friction member 9 is provi ed with two ribs 11 above the plate eand a corresponding pair of ribs below the said plate, between whichsets of ribs the plate e is disposed for the purpose of afior'ding amounting for the said member and for the further urpose of properlyreceiving the thrust of t e'yoke a.

' The longitudinal or side margins of the friction member g arecontinued to formguidingsurfaces 76, that serve to keep the member i! ina substantially uniform straight line of travel, as the clearancebetween the said guiding projections k and the sills is slight. The

rear friction member it has a plurality of ribs l above the plate f andcorresponding ribs Z below the}; late, said ribs being preferably curvedat t eir ends to engage the'curved end of the yoke. The yoke n isattached to the shank 0 of the coupler-bar and is of such a length as toencompass both plates e and f when the said plates are spread farthestapart. The friction members 9 and h carry elements that are preferablyprovided with friction-surfaces that incline toward the center of thestructure and which cooperate with correspondingly-inclined surfacesprovided upon the friction-blocks g g, that are designed to traveltransversely of the sills. The portions of the members 9 and it uponwhich the friction-surfaces that engage with the blocks q q are providedare preferably in the form of triangular blocks g it, that are loosewith respect to the balance of the members 9 and h andwith respect toeach other. These triangular blocks being loose, the particular elementsof the members 9 and it, that carry the same, are desirably providedwith ockets g h into which the said triangular locks are received. Thereare preferably two triangular blocksfor each element, as indicated, inwhich case I desirably employ a supplemental from beingwithdrawn fromthe sills.

were

friction block or member g, which is provided with inclinedfriction-surfaces that engage the adjacent friction-surfaces upon eachset of triangular friction-blocks. By this arrangement of the ceiitralor auxiliary friction elements g the coil-springs are compressed to agreater extent upon a given lon itudinal movement of the coupler than ift e members g and it had each only a single frictionblock. The pocketedportions 9 h are those portions of the members 9 and it that preferablycarry the ribs Z l i, that engage theyoke. The friction blocks ormembers g g are provided with apertures extendin transversely of thesills through the blocks, t rough which apertures the bolt 1* is passed,which bolt is surrounded with coiLspring's s s, that engage at theirinner ends castings t t, that are desirably separately formed withrespect to the blocks 9 g for utility and convenience in assemblageand-construction, the castin s t t or block mechanism passing throu h hoes in the sills into engagement with t e blocks. The outer ends of thebolt r are provided with caps u u, that are preferably adjustable,whereby the tension of the springs s between said caps and the castin s15 maybe regulated. The springs s s, acting t rough the castings t u onthe blocks g, normally bring the said b ocks in proximity and effectseparation of the members g and it until the plates e and f occupy theirnormal positions in engagement with the front margins of the slots 0and-the rear margins of the slots (1. When the member h is moved forwardupon a sufficient pull upon the shank of the :coupler and when themember is moved rearwardly upon a sufficient pus 1 upon the shank of thecoupler, the blocks g are moved apart against the force of the springs ss, which are proportioned to offer the proper resistance to the relativemotion between the members g and 7t for the purpose of the gearing, thesprings s effecting the restoration of the parts to their normalpositions when normal strain upon the shank of the coupler has beenrestored. The opening through the friction element or block g preferablyapproximates the size of the bolt 7 very closely. The openings throughthe blocks g, however, preferably increase slightly in size toward thecenter, so that the blocks g Q will not bind upon the rod or bolt r. Theplates 6 and fare provided with keys or cotter-pins e and f to preventthe said plates As indicated, the sills are provided with oblorwrecesses y, midway between the ends of which the bolt. or rod 1' isnormally disposed, the said rod being pushed or pulled toward one end orthe other of said slots, according to the direction of movement of thecoupler-yoke, the rate of travel of the rod in the construction shownbeing approximately one-half the rate of movement of the coupleryoke.

The advantages in the construction of my ICC x mechanism.

invention will be readily understood by those I a skilled in the art. Itwill be seen that I have provided an improved spring connection betweenthe s1 ring mechanism of a draft-gear andthe cou ler-shank, whichimproved connection inc udes a sliding plate ,or sliding plates passingthrough the slots in the sillsof the gear. This construction I considerto 5 be new with me irrespective of the disposi' 10 tion of the frictionelements of the gear. It

will also be seen that the provision'of slots in the sills and plates 2and f in said slots afford a very convenient means of effectingconnection between the coupler and the spring I It will be particularlyapparent that the sills may be com letely installed in position withoutinterf dring with the assemblage of the friction-gear before theelements of the friction-gear are assemeo bled, which elements maythereafter readily be assembled by means of my improved construction. Ido not wish to be limited in all embodiments of my invention to thedisposition of the spring mechanism transversely z 5 of the sills, as itis obvious that features of the invention may be practiced irrespectiveof the precise location and direction of operation of said mechanism. Itwill be seen that the spring mechanism including the rod is bodilymovable longitudinally of the sills.

The elements e and may be said to con stitute keys. Each 0 theseelements, with its associate pocketed follower-plate and the triangularfriction-blocks carried by the follower-plate, constitute alongitudinall -movable friction member, and while this form of frictionmember is preferred I do not Wish to be limited thereto. While thefrictionblocks 9 h in the embodiment of the invention shown are movablesidewise as they 'move longitudinally, nevertheless it is apparent thatsaid blocks 9 h are longitudinal] movable elements. Inasmuch as the poofated foll(. wer-plates and the keys are essential in the embodiment ofthe invention shown to enable the friction-blocks g h to perform theirfunction, it is proper to speak of the longitudinally-movable frictionmembers as comprising each a pocketed followerplate, a key, and thefriction-blocks.

"While I have shown two adjustable caps u for the rod 1", it is obviousthat in the construction shown but one cap need be adjustfed to take upthe set in the springs, which adjustalility of the mechanism is a veryimportant feature of my present invention.

So far as I am aware there is no friction draft-gear patented or used orknown wherein the adjustment is provided'for taking up tion blocks. Thesprings invariably becolne set in service, so that in a short timethereis considerable lost motion in each draft-gear after it has beenused a short while, due to the-shortening of the springs blocks in thepocketed follower-plates move the set in the springs or the'wear in thefric and the wear of the blocks. I believe am the first to providemechanism whereby this 'lost motion may be remedied.

It will be seen that the triangular friction- 7O transversely and apartupon the operation of the spring mechanism by the coup er.

I have used the expression sills herein in the broadest sense. By theterm adjustable or adjustment or equivalent ex- 7 5 pression used in theclaims and s ecification mean to imply a mechanism w ereby the lostmotion due to the wear on the frictional parts or the set of the springsmay be compensated for or removed and whereby this 8o result may beaccomplished Without change of s rings.

hile by means of my invention I amenabled to use the center sills of thecar-bodies as draft-sills, in certain constructions it may {5 5 be founddesirable to add special draft sills or guides, and such construction iscontemplateil herein.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the construction herein shownwithout dearting from the spirit of my invention, and 'do not,therefore, wish to be limited to the 'precise construction specificallyshown; but,

Having thus set forth my invention,. 1' claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters 9 5 Patent r 1. In a friction draft-gear, the combina{tion with longitudinally-acting friction members, of transversely actingfriction members, the sills between which said friction members aredisposed, and springbmech'amsm acting upon said "members and odllymovable longitudinally of the sills, the spring portion of which is uponthe exterior of said sills and there accessible. m5 2. In a frictiondraft-gear, the combination with the friction members. thereof, thesills between which said members are disposed, a bolt 1" passing througha sill and a transversely-acting friction member, and a no springelement 8 upon the exterior of the sills and cooperating with thefrictionmembers ailild bodily movable longitudinally of the si s.

3. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with longitudinally-actingfriction members, of transversely-acting friction members,

the sills betweenwhich said friction members are disposed, thetransversely-lnovable friction members being aperturcd. transversely noof the sills, a bolt 1 passing through said lat ter members and thesills, and springs supon the exterior of the sills acting in oppositionto the tralrsversely-rmivable members.

' 4-. In a friction draft-gear, the eombination withlongitinlinally-actingfriction members, of transversely-Mting frictionmembers, the sills between which said. friction members are disposed,the transversely-movable frie tion members being apertured transversely13o of the sills, a bolt 7' passing through said latter members andthesills, springs 8 upon the exterior of the sills acting irroppositionto the -transversely-movable memberaand castings bers, of transverselyacting friction members,

the sills between which said friction members are disposed, thetransversely movable friction members being apertured transversely ofthe sills, a bolt 1- passing through said latter members and the sills,springs 8 upon the ex terior of the sills acting in opposition to thetransversely-mm able members, castings or elements t separately formedfrom the transversely-acting members passing through the sills intoengagement with said members and effecting engagement with said springs,and adjustable caps upon the ends of the bolt engaging said springs.

6. In a friction (lraftgear, the combination with longitudinally-actingfriction members, of transversely-acting friction members, the sillsbetween which said friction members are disposed, a casting or element tseparately formed with respect to a friction member and passing througha sill, and a spring 8 upon the exterior of the sills operating upon thesaid element 1 and thereby upon the friction membars.

7. A friction draft-gear including sills, a longitudinally-movablefriction member having sliding mounting in slots provided in the saidsills, and spring mechanism having spring adjustment.

8. A friction draft-gear including the sills thereof, longitudinallymovable members having sliding mounting upon the sills,transvcrsely-movablc friction members, spring mechanism against theforce of which said friction members are moved, a yoke, and a couplerwith which the said yoke is connected, the said yoke acting upon thefriction members, the said sills being slotted to receive portions ofthe longitudinally-movablc friction members, the portions of the saidmembers engaging the said slots being in the form of plates separatelyformed from the balance of said men'ibers.

9. A friction draft-gear inchiding the sills thereof,longitudinallymovable friction members having sliding n'zounting uponthe sills, transverselv-mo 'ablc friction members, spring mechanismagainst the force of which said friction members are moved, a yoke, anda coupler with which the said yoke is connected, the said yoke actingupon the friction -members, the said sills being slotted to receiveportions of the longitudmally-movablefriction members, the portions ofthe said members engaging the said slots being in'the friction l i l l ll friction members.

10. A friction draft-gear including the sills thereof, longitudinallymovable friction members having sliding mounting upon the sills,transverscly-movable friction members, spring mechanism having springadjustment and against the force of which said friction members aremoved, and a coupler, the said sills being slotted to receive portionsof the longitudinally-movable friction members, said snring mechanismbeing upon the exterior of the sills and cooperating with the frictionmembers.

11. A friction draft-gear including the sills thereof,longitudinally-movable friction members having sliding mounting upon thesills, transversely-movable friction members, spring mechanism againstthe force of which said friction members are moved, a yoke, and acoupler with which. the said yoke is connected, the said yoke actingupon the friction members, the said sills bein slotted to receiveportions of the longitu inally-movable friction members, the portions ofthe said members engaging the said slots being in the form of platesseparately formed from the balance of said members, said spring mechanism being upon the exterior" upon said friction members.

of the sills acting ted sills thereof, the spring mechanism thereforhaving spring adjustment, plates working in the slots and in operativeconnection With the spring mechanism, and a coupler in engagement withthe plates, one plate receiving the thrust of the coupler and the'otherplate receiving the pull of the coupler.

13. A friction drafhgear including relatively movable triangularfriction-blocks, a

central longitudinally-disposed friction element (1 interposed betweenand frictionally engaging the same, and transversely-mov-' ablefriction-blocks (1 between ivhich the said friction element q isdisposed, which blocks q also have frictional engagement with thetriangular blocks.

H. A friction draft-gear including relatively movable triangular blocks9, relatively movable triangular blocks h, a coupler in pushing relationwith the first triangular blocks and in pulling relation with the secondtriangular blocks, transversely-movable friction-blocks g g, a frictionelement q interposed between the blocks q and frictionally engaging atone end the olocks g and frictionally engaging at the other end theblocks 71", and spring mechanism to effect the frictional engagementthat is to be maintained between thefricti on blocks or elements.

15. A friction draft gear including rclativcly movable triangular blocksg, relati vely movable triangular blocks 7L, a simpler tiona ly engagingat the other end the block 'versely of t the spring mech .h,tsillsbetween which the said frictionblocks and elements are disposed, and sring mechanism acting transversely of the si ls to effect the desiredfrictional enga ement between the said friction blocks an elements.

16. Ina friction draft-gear; the combination with friction members, ofthe sills between which said friction members are disposed, and spring.mechanism upon the exterior of said sills acting upon said members andhaving sprin adjustment, said spring mechanism being odilymovablelongitudinally of the sills.

17. A friction draft-gearincluding friction members, the sills betweenwhich said friction members are disposed, spring mechanism upontheexterior of the sills and acting transversely thereof, and blockmechanism 25 extending from between the sills to the exte rior thereofand receiving spring pressure from the sprin mechanism and transferringthe spring-pres ure to the friction portion of the gear. p

18. A friction draftgear including friction members, the sills betweenwhich. said friction members are disposed spring mechan ism upon theexterior of the sillsand acting transversely thereof, a rod extendingtransversely of the sills and provided with an ad- 'justable ca foreffecting adjustment of the springmec anism, and block mechanism Itextending from between the sills to the exte rior thereof and receivingspring pressure from the spring mechanism and transferrin thespring-pressure to the friction portion 0 the gear.

19. j A friction draft-gear including friction members, the sillsbetween which said frictidn members are disposed, spring mechanism uponthe exterior of the sills and acting transversely thereof, a rodextendin'gftranse sills and through the spring mechanism nd providedwith an adjustable cap for effecting adjustment of the spring mechanism,ar ..block mechanism t extending from between the sills to the exteriorthereof. and reooi 'fig' spring-pressure from em and transferring thespring-pressure to the friction portion of the gear.

20. A frictio' draft-gear including friction membersdln s between whichsaidfriction mei'nbers are disposed, spring mechanism upon the exteriorof the sills and acting transversely thereof, a rod extendingtransversely of the sills and through the same and the spring mechanismand provided with an atljnstable cap for effecting adjustment of thespring mechanism, and block mechanism t extending from between the sillsto the exterior thereof and receiving spring-pressure from the springmechanism and trans-,

ferrin the spring-pressure to the friction portion 0 the gear. a

21. A friction draft-gear including friction members, the sills betweenwhich said fric tion members are disposed, spring mechanism upon theexterior of the sills and'acting transversely thereof, a rod extendingtransversel of the sills and through the same and provi ed with anadjustable cap for effecting adjustment of the spring mechanism, anblock mechanism t extending from between the sills to the exteriorthereof and receiving spring-pressure from the spring mechanismand-transferring the spring-pressure to the friction portion of thegear. 22. A fribtion draft-gear including friction members, the sillsbetween which said friction members are disposed, spring mechanismuponthe exterior of the sills, and block mechanism t extending from betweenthe sills to. the exterior thereof and receiving spring-pressure fromthe spring mechanism and transferring the spring-pressure to thefriction portion of the gear.

23. A friction draft-gear includingtrans versely-acting' frictionmembers, the S1115 be: tween which the same are dis osed, springmechanism upon the exterior o the sills, and

a rod 1' extending transversely of the sills through the springmechanism into the space 7 between the sills, the sill or sills throu hwhich the rod passes being longitudinal y slotted to permit of themovement ofthe rod and-the spring mechanism longitudinally of the sills,said .rod also passing through that transversely-acting friction memberupon which the spring mechanism directlyacts.

24. A friction draft gear including tran's-' versely-acting frictionmembers, the sills between which the same are dis osed,sprin mechanismupon the exterior o the sills, an a rod 1' extending transversely .ofthe sills through the spring mechanism nto the space between the sills,the sill or sills throu' h which the rod passes being longitudina yslotted to permit of the movement of the'rod and the spring mechanismlongitudinally of the sills.

25. A friction draft-gear-including relatively movable triangularfriction-blocks, a longitudinally-disposed friction element q.interposed between and fiictionally engaging the same, andtransversely-movable frictionblocks q between which the said frictionelement q is disposed, which blocks (1 also have ticn with frictionmembers .--of the sills between which said friction members aredisposed, and transverselyectmg spring mech-.

effecting adjustment of the spring 1101 of the sills acting upon saidmembers,

said spring mechanism including a rod r ex-. of the sills through thetending transversely same and provided with an adjusting-cap for InecISIIL.

28. In a friction draft-gear, thecombination with friction members, ofthe sills be tween which said friction members are dis posed, and springmechanism upon the exterior of the sills acting upon' said members,"

said spring mechanism including a rod r fex tending transversely oft-hesills and provided with an adjusting-cap. for effecting adjust' ment ofthe spring mechanism, said rod passing through the spring of the springmechanism into the space between the sills.

29. 111.0. friction draft-gear, the combination with friction m'embers,of the sills between which sai friction members are disposed, andspringmechanism upon the exterior of the 51118 and including a rod passinginto the space between. the sills and bodily movable longitudinally ofthe sills.

30. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with friction members, ofthe sills between which said friction members are disposed, and s ringmechanism upon the exterio-r of the si s bodily movable longitudinallyof the sills and includin a rod passing into the space between the SlllSand through the spring portion of the spring mechanism and the frictionmember or ately associated with said spring portion.

31. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with friction members, ofthe sills between which said friction-members are disposed, and springmechanism upon the exterior of the sills bodily movable longitudinally Iof the sills and including a rod passing'into the space between thesills and through the friction member or members immediately associatedwith said spring portion.

. 32. A friction draft-gcar including friction members. the sillsbetween which the same are disposed and spring mechanism upon theexterior of the sills, and movable bodily longitudinelly of the sillsand having spring adjustment.

spring mechanism and the si members i1nn1edi- 33. A friction draft-gearincluding friction members, sills between which the same are disposed,spring mechanism upon the exterior of the sills, and a rod passinthrough the s, the said spring mechanism and the rod being movablebodily longitudinally of the sills.

34. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with friction members, ofthe sills between which the said friction members are disposed andspring mechanism upon the exv ,tenor of the sills including a rodpassing through the sills and bodily movable longitudinally of thesills.

35. A friction draft-gear including friction members, sills betweenwhich the same are disposed, spring mechanism upon the exterior of thesills,,a rod passing through the sprin mechanism and the sills, andmeans for e ecting spring adjustment.

36. A friction draft-gear including friction members, sills betweenwhich the same are disposed, spring mechanism upon the exteriorof thesills, a rod passing through the spring mechanism and the sills, thesaid sprin mechanism and the rod bein movable Ivodily longitudinally ofthe sils, and means for effecting spring adjustment.

'37. In a friction draft-gear, the combination with friction members, ofthe sills between which the said friction members are disposed, springmechanism upon the-exterior of the sills including a rod passing throughthe sills and bodily movable longitu dinally of'the sills, springadjustment.

38. The combination with a draft and buffing gear, provided with slottedsupports and constructed substantially as described, of a front followerwith a passage therethrough, a rear follower with a passage, keys withinthe passages of the followers and slots of the supports, and a frictiondevice between the followers.

39. The combination with a' draft and buffing gear, provided withslotted supports, of a front follower with a passage therethrough, arear follower with a passage, keys within the passages of the followersand slots of the supports, a friction device, and a spring. v

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 15th day of May, A.D. 1905.

JAMES R. CARDWELL. IVitnesses: I

Gaonon L. CRAGG, LEoN S'rnoir.

and means for effecting-

